But, as the season continues to develop, Bottas feels his hunger for victories is greater than Hamilton’s desire to be on the top step of the podium, something he has already done seven times this campaign.

“They put every single penny they could into my racing and also their free time was completely compromised.

“There were many things in my childhood I sacrificed: I started travelling quite young, compromising school in terms of learning and time with friends doing normal stuff as a kid you want to do.

“But obviously I wouldn’t change a day.

“When I was 12 there was a big shift in mindset and I realised that if I want to get something out of it then I need to work hard and focus all my energy just for this sport and that’s when I started training and taking things more seriously.

“I became a lot more self-critical and analysed the driving more and more, and that was when I was 12.”